Impeller pump

ABSTRACT

A centrifugal pump comprising a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom and an adapter configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough. A volute housing is configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween. An impeller is configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft via a figured fastener. The impeller includes a first wall having a figured recess defined therein, the figured recessed configured to receive the figured fastener whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the impeller.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to impeller-type pumps, such as centrifugal pumps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Centrifugal pumps utilize an impeller and a volute to pump fluids. The impeller, along with other components of the pumping mechanism, is contained within an adaptor that is connected to a motor. The adaptor is then positioned within a volute housing and the motor is connected to the volute housing by a series of bolts. The impeller is rotated by the motor to move fluid along the volute and out of the volute housing. Specifically, fluid is received through an inlet in the volute housing, typically through a check valve, and is directed to the center of the impeller. The fluid received at the center of the impeller is, during rotation of the impeller, moved outward from the impeller's center. The fluid then leaves the edges of the impeller and is guided by the volute, which directs the flow of fluid through the volute housing.

In order to perform maintenance on a centrifugal pump, the bolts connecting the motor to the volute housing are removed. The motor may then be slid away from the volute housing and the impeller, and other components of the pumping mechanism that are connected to the motor by the adaptor may be disconnected from the adaptor and then from one another. The entire motor and adaptor must then be realigned with the volute housing. Once properly aligned and positioned, the motor is reconnected to the volute housing by reinserting and tightening the series of bolts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has application to impeller-type pumps, such as centrifugal pumps. The centrifugal pump of the present invention includes a motor connected to a volute housing via an adapter. The volute housing is configured to receive a pumping mechanism that includes an impeller rotatably connected to the motor. The volute housing also includes a removable cover that provides access to the interior of the volute housing and to components of the pumping mechanism. In one exemplary embodiment, the removable cover is connected to the volute housing by fasteners, such as bolts. By removing the cover, the impeller and other components of the pumping mechanism may be disassembled and, if necessary, serviced, without the need to remove the adapter from the motor. In another exemplary embodiment, a gasket having an integrated weighted flapper valve is secured between the cover and the volute housing. The weighted flapper valve is positioned to align with a fluid inlet formed in the cover and acts as a check valve, substantially preventing fluid within the volute housing from exiting through the inlet.

In general, an embodiment the present invention is directed to a centrifugal pump comprising a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom. An adapter is configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough. A volute housing is configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween. An impeller is configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft via a figured fastener. The impeller includes a first wall having a figured recess defined therein, the figured recessed configured to receive the figured fastener whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the impeller.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the centrifugal pay may further comprise a bore formed in the volute housing on the side opposite the impeller; and a removable cover secured to the volute housing, the cover configured to seal the bore in the volute housing. The removable cover may further comprise an inlet orifice, the inlet orifice configured to direct fluid into the volute housing.

In another aspect of the present invention, a bore is formed in the volute housing on the side opposite the impeller. A removable cover may be secured to the volute housing, the cover configured to seal the bore in the volute housing. A gasket having an integral flapper may be secured between the volute housing and the removable cover, wherein the flapper aligns with the fluid inlet orifice to prevent fluid from exiting through the inlet orifice. The flapper may further comprise a weight, wherein the flapper includes a sidewall and external lip portion configure to removably secure the weight to the flapper. The weight may be a washer and the flapper may further include a central nodule configured to seat within a central bore of the washer.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a centrifugal pump, comprises a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom and an adapter configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough. A volute housing is configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween. An impeller is configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft. A bore may be formed in the volute housing on the side opposite the impeller and a removable cover may be secured to the volute housing, the cover configured to seal the bore in the volute housing. A gasket having an integral flapper may be secured between the volute housing and the removable cover, wherein the flapper aligns with the fluid inlet orifice to prevent fluid from exiting through the inlet orifice. The flapper may further comprise a weight, wherein the flapper includes a sidewall and external lip portion configure to removably secure the weight to the flapper. The weight may be a washer and the flapper may further include a central nodule configured to seat within a central bore of the washer.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a centrifugal pump, comprises a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom and an adapter configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough. A volute housing is configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween. An impeller is configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft via a figured fastener. The impeller may include a first wall having a figured recess defined therein, the figured recessed configured to receive the figured fastener whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the impeller. The volute housing may also include an internal chevron-shaped flange proximate an exit of the impeller at a first end and a volute housing outlet orifice at a second end. The chevron-shaped flange may be configured to convert fluid velocity of a fluid exiting the impeller into fluid pressure at the outlet orifice. The centrifugal pump may further comprise a second internal flange within the volute housing, the second flange defining a floor of a head space within the volute housing, the second flange recirculating fluid from the head space toward the impeller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a centrifugal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the centrifugal pump of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the centrifugal pump of FIG. 1, viewed in the direction of line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isolated view of a weighted flapper configured to be used with the centrifugal pump of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the weighted flapper viewed in the direction of line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an expanded detailed view of the weighted flapper shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isolated exploded view of an impeller configured to be used with the centrifugal pump of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the impeller shown in FIG. 7 with the cap bolt and seal mounted onto the impeller;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the volute housing viewed in the direction of line 9-9 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is another cross-sectional view of the volute housing viewed in the direction of line 9-9 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, centrifugal pump 10 is shown including motor 12 and volute housing 14 coupled to one another via adapter 16. In one exemplary embodiment, centrifugal pump 10 may be a self-priming pump similar to that described with U.S. Pat. No. 8,202,046, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, centrifugal pump 10 may be a marine ignition proof pump capable of operating in regulated marine environments in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization Standard No. 8846, i.e., IS08846. In one exemplary embodiment, motor 12 may be configured to operate on both low and high voltage and include toggle switch configured to switch between a 115 Volt, 60 Hertz and a 220 Volt, 50-60 Hertz operating mode as is known in the art.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, shaft 18 may extend from and be rotatably connected to motor 12. Shaft 18 is configured to pass through opening 20 of adapter 16 when adapter 16 is mounted onto motor 12. To that end, adapter 16 may include flanges 17 configured to coincide with and be removably couple to motor 12 via fasteners 19. As shown in FIG. 3, mechanical seal 22 is received within counter bore 24 which defines opening 20. Mechanical seal 22 is then received on shaft 18 by positioning shaft 18 through aperture 26 (FIG. 2) of mechanical seal 22. By positioning mechanical seal 22 on shaft 18 and within counter bore 24, a fluid tight seal is created between shaft 18 and opening 20 of adapter 16. Adapter 16 is further configured to be mounted around an impeller aperture 28 defined by volute housing 14, such as through one or more fasteners 30. An O-ring 32 may be disposed between adapter 16 and volute housing 14 to create a fluid tight seal therebetween. The coupled adapter 16/volute housing 14 define an pumping chamber 34 configure to receive an impeller 36 and fluid to be pumped therein.

As shown in FIG. 3, impeller 36 is positioned adjacent mechanical seal 22 on shaft 18 such that mechanical seal is seated within seal aperture 38 defined by annular wall 40 extending outwardly from rear face 41 of first wall 42 of impeller 36 while shaft 18 seats within shaft aperture 44 defined by first wall 42 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). To secure impeller 36 to shaft 18 and to prevent translation of impeller 36 along the longitudinal axis of shaft 18, the interior surface 43 of first wall 42 of impeller 36 is configured to define a cap screw bore 46 therein. Threaded end 48 of cap screw 50 passes through cap screw bore 46 and is threadingly engaged with female threaded end 52 of shaft 18. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the inner face 43 of first wall 42 may include a figured recess 54 configured to receive a mating figured head 56 of cap screw 50. An O-ring 58 may be positioned between head 56 and first wall 42 to provide a fluid tight seal. By seating head 56 within recess 54 of impeller 36, rotation of shaft 18 in turn causes rotation of impeller 36.

Impeller 36 may also include a plurality of blades 60 that direct the flow of fluid during rotation of impeller 36, as described in detail below. In order to direct the flow of fluid to the center of rotation of impeller 36, impeller 36 may include a second wall 62 having inlet aperture 64 defined at the center of second wall 62. Referring to FIG. 3, second wall 62 is received within counter bore 66 machined into volute housing 14.

Once the pumping mechanism is assembled as described in detail above, a gasket 68 is positioned between cover 70 and volute housing 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, to create a fluid tight seal between cover 70 and volute housing 14. Referring to FIGS. 3-6, gasket 68 may include a flapper 72 connected thereto. In one exemplary embodiment, flapper 72 is formed as an integral part of gasket 68. Flapper 72 may be connected to gasket 68 by hinge portion 74 (FIGS. 4-6). Flapper 72 is larger than inlet orifice 76 defined by cover 70 and, by positioning flapper 72 over inlet orifice 76, flapper 72 functions in a manner similar to a check valve. Specifically, flapper 72 allows for fluid to enter volute housing 14 through inlet orifice 76 by flexing inwardly at hinge portion 74 and moving into volute housing under pressure from fluid entering inlet orifice 76. Additionally, when fluid within volute housing 14 presses against flapper 72, flapper 72 forms a seal against cover 70 around the periphery of inlet orifice 76 and prevents fluid from exiting volute housing 14 through inlet orifice 76. In order to allow flapper 72 to flex inwardly, flapper 72 and hinge portion 74 are formed from a flexible material, such as a polymer.

To facilitate sealing engagement between flapper 72 and inlet orifice 76, flapper 72 may be weighted. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, flapper 72 may be configured to include a weight 78, such as but not limited to a stainless steel or brass washer. To that end, flapper 72 may include an annularly extended sidewall 80 having an external lip portion 82. Sidewall 80 may be proportion to snuggly receive weight 78 therein while lip portion 82 may prevent unwanted dislodgment of weight 78 from flapper 72. When weight 78 is a washer as shown in the various figures, flapper 72 may be further configured to include a central nodule 84 proportion to seat within central bore 86 of the washer. In this manner, weight 78 is securely, but selectively removably, coupled to flapper 72.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 9 and 10, with pump 10 assembled, pipes (not shown) may be connected to fluid inlet orifice 76 and fluid outlet orifice 88 to provide fluid to and receive fluid from pump 10, respectively. Once pipes are connected to fluid inlet orifice 76 and fluid outlet orifice 88, pump 10 is ready for initial priming. To prime pump 10, priming bolt 90 is removed from priming aperture 92 to allow for the receipt of fluid into volute housing 14. Once sufficiently primed, priming bolt 90 is threadingly engaged within priming aperture 92 to create a fluid tight seal with volute housing 14. In one exemplary embodiment, pump 10 is a self priming pump and, once initially primed, pump 10 does not necessitate re-priming.

During operation of pump 10, motor 12 is activated and shaft 18 of motor 12 is rotated, resulting in corresponding rotation of impeller 36 within pumping chamber 34 (FIG. 3). As a result of the rotation of impeller 36, fluid is drawn through inlet orifice 76, past flapper 72 of gasket 68, and into fluid receiving chamber 94. The fluid within fluid receiving chamber 94 is then drawn through aperture 64 in second wall 62. When fluid is drawn through aperture 64 of second wall 62, it enters the center of impeller 36. The fluid is then accelerated away from the center of impeller 36 as it rotates and is forced in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 9. The fluid continues in the direction of arrow A, ultimately reaching head space 96. As fluid accumulates in head space 96 it is forced out of outlet orifice 88. To that end, volute housing 14 may include flanges 98, 100 configured to direct the flow of fluid within the volute housing. Flange 98 is configured to have a chevron-shaped profile having a first end 99 and a second end 101 wherein first end 99 is located proximate exit 102 of the impeller flow channel and second end 101 is positioned a spaced distance below outlet orifice 88. Flange 100 defines the floor of head space 96 whereby fluid that has not exited through outlet orifice 88 may fall back toward the impeller through channel 104. As a result of the form and location of flanges 98 and 100, the velocity of the fluid generated by impeller 36 is optimally converted into pressure at outlet orifice 88.

Once pump 10 is stopped, air may gather in head space 96 and/or pumping chamber 34. In the exemplary embodiment in which pump 10 is a self priming pump, the need to remove bolt 90 from priming aperture 92 and refill pump 10 with fluid is eliminated. Specifically, when pump 10 is restarted, both the fluid and air contained within volute housing 14 are accelerated by impeller 36. As the fluid and air are moved in the direction of arrow A, the air rises into head space 96 because the air is lighter than the fluid. The fluid then falls back toward impeller 36 through channel 104, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Additionally, flapper 72 of gasket 68 prevents air and/or fluid from exiting volute housing 14 through inlet orifice 76. Fluid falling back into pumping chamber 34 is then mixed with additional fluid drawn through inlet orifice 76 and into fluid receiving chamber 94. This action continues until a sufficient amount of fluid has built up within head space 96 to force all of the air out of outlet orifice 88. Once fluid receiving chamber 94, pumping chamber 34, and head space 96 are filled with fluid, pump 10 begins to operate at its normal capacity.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A centrifugal pump, comprising: a) a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom; b) an adapter configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough; c) a volute housing configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween; and d) an impeller configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft via a figured fastener, wherein the impeller includes a first wall having a figured recess defined therein, the figured recessed configured to receive the figured fastener whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the impeller.
 2. The centrifugal pump of claim 1, and further comprising: e) a bore formed in the volute housing on the side opposite the impeller; and f) a removable cover secured to the volute housing, the cover configured to seal the bore in the volute housing.
 3. The centrifugal pump of claim 2, wherein the removable cover further comprises an inlet orifice, the inlet orifice configured to direct fluid into the volute housing.
 4. The centrifugal pump of claim 1, and further comprising: e) a bore formed in the volute housing on the side opposite the impeller; f) a removable cover secured to the volute housing, the cover configured to seal the bore in the volute housing; and g) a gasket having an integral flapper, the gasket secured between the volute housing and the removable cover, wherein the flapper aligns with the fluid inlet orifice to prevent fluid from exiting through the inlet orifice.
 5. The centrifugal pump of claim 4, wherein the flapper further comprises a weight, wherein the flapper includes a sidewall and external lip portion configure to removably secure the weight to the flapper.
 6. The centrifugal pump of claim 5, wherein the weight is a washer and wherein the flapper further includes a central nodule configured to seat within a central bore of the washer.
 7. A centrifugal pump, comprising: a) a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom; b) an adapter configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough; c) a volute housing configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween; d) an impeller configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft; e) a bore formed in the volute housing on the side opposite the impeller; f) a removable cover secured to the volute housing, the cover configured to seal the bore in the volute housing; and g) a gasket having an integral flapper, the gasket secured between the volute housing and the removable cover, wherein the flapper aligns with the fluid inlet orifice to prevent fluid from exiting through the inlet orifice.
 8. The centrifugal pump of claim 7, wherein the flapper further comprises a weight, wherein the flapper includes a sidewall and external lip portion configure to removably secure the weight to the flapper.
 9. The centrifugal pump of claim 10, wherein the weight is a washer and wherein the flapper further includes a central nodule configured to seat within a central bore of the washer.
 10. A centrifugal pump, comprising: a) a motor with a shaft rotatably extending therefrom; b) an adapter configured to be mounted to the motor at a first side, the first side including an opening for permitting passage of the shaft therethrough; c) a volute housing configured to be mounted to a second side of the adapter, the adapter and volute housing defining a pumping chamber therebetween; and d) an impeller configured to be disposed within the pumping chamber and rotatably coupled to the shaft via a figured fastener, wherein the impeller includes a first wall having a figured recess defined therein, the figured recessed configured to receive the figured fastener whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the impeller, wherein the volute housing includes an internal chevron-shaped flange proximate an exit of the impeller at a first end and a volute housing outlet orifice at a second end, the chevron-shaped flange configured to convert fluid velocity of a fluid exiting the impeller into fluid pressure at the outlet orifice.
 11. The centrifugal pump of claim 1, and further comprising: e) a second internal flange within the volute housing, the second flange defining a floor of a head space within the volute housing, the second flange recirculating fluid from the head space toward the impeller. 